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turnkey was going to follow him; and to lock the door of 

Cornelius's cell; when a white and trembling arm interposed 

between him and the heavy door。 



Cornelius saw nothing but the golden brocade cap; tipped 

with lace; such as the Frisian girls wore; he heard nothing 

but some one whispering into the ear of the turnkey。 But the 

latter put his heavy keys into the white hand which was 

stretched out to receive them; and; descending some steps; 

sat down on the staircase which was thus guarded above by 

himself; and below by the dog。 The head…dress turned round; 

and Cornelius beheld the face of Rosa; blanched with grief; 

and her beautiful eyes streaming with tears。 



She went up to Cornelius; crossing her arms on her heaving 

breast。 



〃Oh; sir; sir!〃 she said; but sobs choked her utterance。 



〃My good girl;〃 Cornelius replied with emotion; 〃what do you 

wish? I may tell you that my time on earth is short。〃 



〃I come to ask a favour of you;〃 said Rosa; extending her 

arms partly towards him and partly towards heaven。 



〃Don't weep so; Rosa;〃 said the prisoner; 〃for your tears go 

much more to my heart than my approaching fate; and you 

know; the less guilty a prisoner is; the more it is his duty 

to die calmly; and even joyfully; as he dies a martyr。 Come; 

there's a dear; don't cry any more; and tell me what you 

want; my pretty Rosa。〃 



She fell on her knees。 〃Forgive my father;〃 she said。 



〃Your father; your father!〃 said Cornelius; astonished。 



〃Yes; he has been so harsh to you; but it is his nature; he 

is so to every one; and you are not the only one whom he has 

bullied。〃 



〃He is punished; my dear Rosa; more than punished; by the 

accident that has befallen him; and I forgive him。〃 



〃I thank you; sir;〃 said Rosa。 〃And now tell me  oh; tell 

me  can I do anything for you?〃 



〃You can dry your beautiful eyes; my dear child;〃 answered 

Cornelius; with a good…tempered smile。 



〃But what can I do for you;  for you I mean?〃 



〃A man who has only one hour longer to live must be a great 

Sybarite still to want anything; my dear Rosa。〃 



〃The clergyman whom they have proposed to you?〃 



〃I have worshipped God all my life; I have worshipped Him in 

His works; and praised Him in His decrees。 I am at peace 

with Him and do not wish for a clergyman。 The last thought 

which occupies my mind; however has reference to the glory 

of the Almighty; and; indeed; my dear; I should ask you to 

help me in carrying out this last thought。〃 



〃Oh; Mynheer Cornelius; speak; speak!〃 exclaimed Rosa; still 

bathed in tears。 



〃Give me your hand; and promise me not to laugh; my dear 

child。〃 



〃Laugh;〃 exclaimed Rosa; frantic with grief; 〃laugh at this 

moment! do you not see my tears?〃 



〃Rosa; you are no stranger to me。 I have not seen much of 

you; but that little is enough to make me appreciate your 

character。 I have never seen a woman more fair or more pure 

than you are; and if from this moment I take no more notice 

of you; forgive me; it is only because; on leaving this 

world; I do not wish to have any further regret。〃 



Rosa felt a shudder creeping over her frame; for; whilst the 

prisoner pronounced these words; the belfry clock of the 

Buytenhof struck eleven。 



Cornelius understood her。 〃Yes; yes; let us make haste;〃 he 

said; 〃you are right; Rosa。〃 



Then; taking the paper with the three suckers from his 

breast; where he had again put it; since he had no longer 

any fear of being searched; he said: 〃My dear girl; I have 

been very fond of flowers。 That was at a time when I did not 

know that there was anything else to be loved。 Don't blush; 

Rosa; nor turn away; and even if I were making you a 

declaration of love; alas! poor dear; it would be of no more 

consequence。 Down there in the yard; there is an instrument 

of steel; which in sixty minutes will put an end to my 

boldness。 Well; Rosa; I loved flowers dearly; and I have 

found; or at least I believe so; the secret of the great 

black tulip; which it has been considered impossible to 

grow; and for which; as you know; or may not know; a prize 

of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the 

Horticultural Society of Haarlem。 These hundred thousand 

guilders  and Heaven knows I do not regret them  these 

hundred thousand guilders I have here in this paper; for 

they are won by the three bulbs wrapped up in it; which you 

may take; Rosa; as I make you a present of them。〃 



〃Mynheer Cornelius!〃 



〃Yes; yes; Rosa; you may take them; you are not wronging any 

one; my child。 I am alone in this world; my parents are 

dead; I never had a sister or a brother。 I have never had a 

thought of loving any one with what is called love; and if 

any one has loved me; I have not known it。 However; you see 

well; Rosa; that I am abandoned by everybody; as in this sad 

hour you alone are with me in my prison; consoling and 

assisting me。〃 



〃But; sir; a hundred thousand guilders!〃 



〃Well; let us talk seriously; my dear child: those hundred 

thousand guilders will be a nice marriage portion; with your 

pretty face; you shall have them; Rosa; dear Rosa; and I ask 

nothing in return but your promise that you will marry a 

fine young man; whom you love; and who will love you; as 

dearly as I loved my flowers。 Don't interrupt me; Rosa dear; 

I have only a few minutes more。〃 



The poor girl was nearly choking with her sobs。 



Cornelius took her by the hand。 



〃Listen to me;〃 he continued: 〃I'll tell you how to manage 

it。 Go to Dort and ask Butruysheim; my gardener; for soil 

from my border number six; fill a deep box with it; and 

plant in it these three bulbs。 They will flower next May; 

that is to say; in seven months; and; when you see the 

flower forming on the stem; be careful at night to protect 

them from the wind; and by day to screen them from the sun。 

They will flower black; I am quite sure of it。 You are then 

to apprise the President of the Haarlem Society。 He will 

cause the color of the flower to be proved before a 

committee and these hundred thousand guilders will be paid 

to you。〃 



Rosa heaved a deep sigh。 



〃And now;〃 continued Cornelius;  wiping away a tear which 

was glistening in his eye; and which was shed much more for 

that marvellous black tulip which he was not to see than for 

the life which he was about to lose;  〃I have no wish 

left; except that the tulip should be called Rosa 

Barlaensis; that is to say; that its name should combine 

yours and mine; and as; of course; you do not understand 

Latin; and might therefore forget this name; try to get for 

me pencil and paper; that I may write it down for you。〃 



Rosa sobbed afresh; and handed to him a book; bound in 

shagreen; which bore the initials C。 W。 



〃What is this?〃 asked the prisoner。 



〃Alas!〃 replied Rosa; 〃it is the Bible of your poor 

godfather; Cornelius de Witt。 From it he derived strength to 

endure the torture; and to bear his sentence without 

flinching。 I found it in this cell; after the death of the 

martyr; and have preserved it as a relic。 To…day I brought 

it to you; for it seemed to me that this book must possess 

in itself a divine power。 Write in it what you have to 

write; Mynheer Cornelius; and though; unfortunately; I am 

not able to read; I will take care that what you write shall 

be accomplished。〃 



Cornelius took the Bible; and kissed it reverently。 



〃With what shall I write?〃 asked Cornelius。 



〃There is a pencil in the Bible;〃 said Rosa。 



This was the pencil which John de Witt had lent to his 

brother; and which he had forgotten to take away with him。 



Cornelius took it; and on the second fly leaf (for it will 

be remembered that the first was torn out); drawing near his 

end like his godfather; he wrote with a no less firm hand: 

 



〃On this day; the 23d of August; 1672; being on the point of 

rendering; although innocent; my soul to God on the 

scaffold; I bequeath to Rosa Gryphus the only worldly goods 

which remain to me of all that I have possessed in this 

world; the rest having been confiscated; I bequeath; I say; 

to Rosa Gryphus three bulbs; which I am convinced must 

produce; in the next May; the Grand Black Tulip for which a 

prize of a hundred thousand guilders has been offered by the 

Haarlem Society; requesting that she may be paid the same 

sum in my stead; as my sole heiress; under the only 

condition of her marrying a respectable young man of about 

my age; who loves her; and whom she loves; and of her giving 

the black tulip; which will constitute a new species; the 

name of Rosa Barlaensis; that is to say; hers and mine 

combined。 



〃So may God grant me mercy; and to her health and long life! 



〃Cornelius van Baerle。〃 



The prisoner then; giving the Bible to R

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